A visit to New Jersey Beer Co.

Earlier this month, I was lured to the state’s newest brewery, New Jersey Beer Co. in North Bergen. (Port 44 Brew Pub in Newark also opened this year).

Brewer Matt Bacco told me he would wear an Oktoberfest dress if I did—thus bribing me with a photo op and cheap thrill.

However, when I got there, he refused. “Some days I'd totally wear a dress,” Bacco lamented, “but today was a rough day."

Matt Steinberg, the brewery’s founder, was on the sidewalk roasting malt and meat on a grill. He enjoys the tasting room.

"It's a good interaction," he explained. "We get to give people face time that corporations can't. It's nice to meet people, and have them coming back."

So far, about 30 people a week visit the fledgling brewery, which opened this summer. There were about ten visitors when I was there, poking around tanks and milling about in the homey tasting room.

The room itself is reminiscent of your parents’ basement, if there was a bar down there—it’s full of old green couches, a torn leather recliner and an empty dog crate.

The brewery's three flagship beers are on tap for sampling: The Hudson Pale Ale, Garden State Stout and 1787 Abbey Single. All are nice representatives.

The 5.8% ABV, medium-bodied Pale Ale's piney bitter notes are balanced by peach and honey flavors. The Abbey Single is a light-bodied Belgian style, mildly spiced with flavors like cardamom, and has a light banana bread taste, a hint of currant and is 4.8% ABV.

The Garden State Stout, the strongest at about 6.6%, has strong bitter espresso and chocolate flavors up front, followed by vanilla, raisin and brown sugar.

The tour and tastings are free but per state law only four 4-oz samples can be served. However, you can purchase 6-packs, growlers and merchandise, which includes anything from work shirts and pint glasses to tank tops.

As for the barbecue, Steinberg was smoking the malt for the brewery's winter seasonal, due out around Halloween. The Weehawken Wee Heavy, the recipe of which was formulated by new Head Brewer Pete Velez, is going to be a heavy, malty, highly alcoholic Scotch Ale with dark fruit notes, perfect for winter, according to Steinberg.

In addition, they'll also do a second running for the 60-Shilling Mild, a low alcohol beer with about 3.5 percent ABV. The new beers will be brewed once and are draft-only.

The tasting room and tours are open 5-8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and 2-6 p.m. on Saturdays. The brewery is located at 4201 Tonnelle Ave. in North Bergen, several blocks from the Hudson-Bergen Tonnelle Avenue Light Rail Station.

The beer is distributed by Hunterdon Brewing; you can find it at better bars and liquor stores. Check New Jersey Beer Co. on Facebook (facebook.com/njbeerco) or Twitter (twitter.com/njbeerco).